Always on My Mind
What is it that’s always on my mind? The honest answer is that too much of the time I have me on my mind. When I have me on my mind so much, I spend too much time praying for and about me. After all, James 4:2 says that we have not because we ask not, so I need to pray for me to make sure that I have all I need – right? But when I spend so much time on me and my needs, telling God the same things over and over, not only do I neglect to pray for others, but I don’t even think about them! Even more importantly, prayer is about growing in relationship with my heavenly Father. How can I get to know Him better when I am always on my mind?
How do I remedy the problem of this self-focused mind? I have to be honest with myself, see it like it really is, and repent for having allowed myself to become my main focus (again). Then I ask the Holy Spirit to help me lift up my eyes, for when my eyes are only on me, they are too low, and are not able to see the Lord or the things He desires to show me. He always leads me to His Word, for it is the power of His Word that changes me as I meditate on it.
Isaiah 26:3-4 “3 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].” AMP
Psalm 139:17-18 “17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. . .” NIV
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” AMP
1 Peter 5:6-7 “6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” AMP
Matthew 6:25-33 “ . . .33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” NIV (Be sure to read the rest of this passage.)
It really comes down to trusting God and His Word. If His thoughts towards me are precious, more numerous than the grains of sand, and for my welfare and peace, that must be enough for me. My heavenly Father thinks this way about me, with thoughts so far beyond what my own thoughts have been! Seeking Him first, my focus is changed from me always being on my mind to my Father God always being on my mind, and His thoughts becoming my thoughts. When I have His thoughts, I pray for the people on His heart, and I rest in His promises to care for me. What freedom in prayer this brings to me! I pray you, too, will be set free (again?) by this simple truth, as well.
© Copyright 2007 Kay V. Stocking
